Hello all,

I'll try to give ya the short version. I successfully installed Debian-Sarge(2.6.3 Kernel) w/ the new installer. I got my nic and network setup to get ip from router. Then i was able to setup apt and install x-window-system, kde and gnome. And all seems to work so far!!!! So that is the good part!

But, as i am a novice here (2 months total b/tw slack9.1, Mepis and now debian) I have never recompiled/installed a new kernel, and talk of modules, built in support etc are still a little greek to me, although i am learning quickly. the process seems a bit intimidating, but i know ya just gotta dive in. Anyway I now am wondering if it would be better to do a fresh install and then to set up a new kernel (K7 support--Athlon 1700+), install nvidia drivers (gigabyte geforce fx5200 twinview), and whatever else may be needed before i do anything like installing X, kde and apt upgrades or dist-upgrade.

Any opinions or info about the order or process of doing these things is greatly appreciated.

Peace,
Boutros

The good news is, Debian has precompiled kernel images with the k7 opts already built.
As far as the Nvidia drivers go, check out the linux forums on Nvidia's site and search for debian packages. I know there are a couple of third parties that make debs for the different kernel images. Then all you have to do is either add those directories to your /etc/apt/sources.lst and apt-get yourself to binary module bliss or download the deb that matches your kernel version and...


One of the nice things about the *nix way of doing things is that order of installation doesn't matter all that much.

Wow,

I have spent the last few days convincing myself that debian was the distro for me to go with personally. I thought it has been around a long time, many other distros are based on it (hence a large user base), it is 100 % gnu/linux and i've heard alot of good stuff about apt. So if i gotta learn a distro i guess i'll dive into debian.

This does relate to the post above by the way.... I took your advice found the K7 kernel image. I apt-get install it, it updates grub, i reboot and bam 2.6.6 K7 kernel. All in approx 7-8 including the download and reboot. I am very pleased w/debian thus far.

Now for the nvidia drivers...
Boutros

Since i upgrade the kernel with apt-get instead of compiling it, do i need to get the kernel source or the headers before i can compile the nvidia driver.

Any help proceeding here appreciated!

Peace,
Boutros

welcome penguin land..

yes anytime you upgrade the kernel image you must reinstall the matching headers....here is an easy way
boot to the text mode in the newly installed kernel and

apt-get install kernel-headers-$(uname -r)

congratulations and welcome to debian! i too am new to debian and had a very succefull install with the beta 4 installer. installed the 2.6.3 kernel and havent looked back. i have used linux solid for about a year now, mostly on slackware where i learned much. decided to try debian and was very impressed.

like you too i havent tried to upgraded my kernel yet or comple a new one but appearently i dont have too. i will follow the steps above to see if i can get a kernel for my duron 1.3ghz or is a duron a K7?

anyway, again, welcome to debian!

thanks Utanja,

i have now installed the headers and will try to see about the nvidia drivers now.

Peace,
Boutros